1.7 min readBy Published On: September 26th, 2016Categories: News13 Comments on Is My Diner the new Starbucks?

Updated Tuesday

At least one neighbor is not happy about the news that local favorite My Diner may be moving to the corner of I and Eighth Street.  Last week, we reported that the recently closed breakfast and lunch spot on A Street was hoping to reopen at 545 East Eighth Street.

Yesterday morning, one neighbor from I Street was spotted wearing a homemade sign in front of the location reading “ I and E. 8th does not need a DINER.”   Yes, a one man picket line.

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Oh boy, we have a feeling that anti-My Diner peeps will be using the old parking and traffic cards to oppose the diner – the same issues brought up to oppose Starbucks at the corner of L and Broadway.  After a long and hard battle, Starbucks did get approved its common victualler license by the City of Boston licensing board.

An abutters meeting took place on Monday, September 26th at 6:45pm at the location.  According to someone who was there, the meeting was well attended and the crowd was split pretty evenly with half in support of the diner open and the other half with concerns ranging from trash, parking, and congestion.

Editor’s note: Although there hasn’t been a business since the late 90’s/early 2000’s at this intersection, there have been numerous businesses operating at this corner for decades before that.  Some operating at same time on different corners. There was a pharmacy, a corner store, a pizza shop, a video shop – not to mention an ice cream shop at the corner of I and Marine (the next block down).  So what are we worried about now?  If we keep pulling the parking and traffic cards, absolutely no business would open in Southie.  Concerns should be addressed and the neighborhood input should be taken seriously but we need more new small businesses in our neighborhood.  

13 Comments

  1. Ali September 26, 2016 at 3:01 pm - Reply

    Agree! Thanks for reporting on this. I live on East 8th near 8th and I and I am in full support of having a locally owned, family friendly business on our street to serve the neighborhood.

    Touchies is one street over and no one is picketing outside to remove the pub.

    “I and E 8th DOES need and want a diner!”

  2. ACSweeney September 26, 2016 at 5:16 pm - Reply

    I personally loved My Diner and welcome them to the street. Just make 8th one way.

  3. JK September 26, 2016 at 6:06 pm - Reply

    Everybody loves My Diner but not everybody is going to have to live with it THAT close to them. Everybody is entitled to their opinion EVEN those who are against it. Suddenly traffic and parking are not valid concerns? As stated no businesses have operated in this area for decades. Much has changed in our neighborhood in that time as we all know. I live right there and I don’t believe that the congestion of the area makes a Diner a good fit there. Thanks for letting me voice my opinion.

  4. Ed September 26, 2016 at 6:10 pm - Reply

    This is the first time I’ve heard this site refer to people mentioning the ‘Parking Crisis/ Emergency’ in the neighborhood (your words in past articles) as people playing “the Parking/traffic card”.? I’d say double parked cars all day is a legit issue for the abutting neighbors.

    • Maureen Dahill September 26, 2016 at 6:22 pm - Reply

      I agree that we have a parking crisis in South Boston – especially at night. During the day there are plenty of spots. If we, as a community, keep opposing new businesses based on traffic and parking – we will never have a new business in the neighborhood. That storefront has been vacant for decades. Double parking in Southie has been an issue for as long as I can remember and will continue to be an issue. Opposing a new business is not going to fix the double parking issue. That’s an enforcement issue.

    • Matt September 27, 2016 at 1:37 pm - Reply

      Here’s a thought: Call BTD or BPD. If enough people hound them they’ll have no choice but to enforce the laws.

      • Dylan September 30, 2016 at 5:38 pm - Reply

        No chance Matt. If you stop double parking in Southie you effectively shut down part of the commerce. Imagine trying to go to anything on West Broadway between F and Dorchester for a quick stop and not being able to double park?

        • Matt October 1, 2016 at 5:01 am - Reply

          And right at that statement, the right to complain about double parking is revoked. You can’t have it both ways.

  5. Kevin September 27, 2016 at 6:36 pm - Reply

    Turkey Hash!

  6. tina September 28, 2016 at 1:21 pm - Reply

    i loved My Diner, i live in the area of East 8th and I, i hope it comes back to that local. im excited. only concern is the entrance is not whelchair accessible. :(

    • Derek September 30, 2016 at 2:13 am - Reply

      The renovation includes a wheelchair accessible entrance. I saw it in the fliyer distributed in the abutters meeting – and I think required by law.

  7. Kristin September 28, 2016 at 5:30 pm - Reply

    They’re not even a NEW business! This is a family owned Southie business that was forced out of their old location for another condo development. Let’s not forget the facts. Who is better than our own to take over a vacant location in the neighborhood?!

  8. Brooke September 30, 2016 at 4:33 pm - Reply

    I lived next to My Diner when it was on A Street and I never had an issue with parking. In reality, this establishment will be busy on the weekends, when very few people in Southie even move their cars. If anything, people will have a hard time finding parking to eat at My Diner, they won’t be taking spots away from local residents. People are going to complain about everything, but don’t complain about My Diner staying in Southie.

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